loccent | run with wolves

Entry tags:

verse: run with wolves

run with wolves | open post.

Characters

Asil, The Moor
A very, very old wolf and a member of the Marrok's pack.

Jang Eun
Previously of Carmel Valley, sent to Aspen Creek by her former Alpha.

Jesse Hauptman
Daughter of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack

Joshua Brennan
Burden-bound. A Sin-Eater paired with the ghost of a long-dead soldier.

PREMISE

All the stories are true. Years ago, the Fae came out because technology was making it harder and harder for them to hide, and it's been a couple of years since the werewolves did the same. The world is changing day by day. Humans and the paranormal live side by side, but it's not easy nor is it simple. While the Marrok has taken great lengths and care to preserve the werewolves' PR front, everyone - wolf, fae, vampire and other - know that it's only a matter of time before the humans start thinking that perhaps the other stories meant to warn of the dark are true.

This is an open post set in the universe of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. The books are amazing and you should definitely check them out. More information via this Wiki link. The rules are simple: Drop a prompt, leave a tag, and let's play!

THREAD TRACKING

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The way she describes it appeals to him greatly. Seeing her in his shirts settled him and that it implied that she felt comfortable enough donning his clothes. ]

I will be bringing this. [ He nods to a brown leather jacket that looks like it has seen long years of service. ] This is a favorite of mine. I am bringing it just in case there is a need for it in the evenings. But during the day I doubt I will be using it very much.

[Eun may very well wear one of his shirts as well that day. After all, they'll go together with the jacket already, and she knows how to style it for herself in a way that suits her way of dressing.]

It's not as cold there as it is here, but San Francisco definitely gets windy this time of year. You may need it for that more than warmth. But either way, I'm stealing it for the night of the ritual. Maybe a shirt too.

[She gives him another kiss, this time to his cheek, before pulling away. Standing over his bed where his clothes and suitcase are laid out, she begins sorting through things. A shirt to one side. A t-shirt to the other. These jeans. That jacket. She sorts through all of it, arranging them into outfits that can be easily mixed and matched, until she's satisfied with the final results. There's enough there to dress up as needed, as well as dress down for running around the city as she plans. Her hands settle on her hips as she looks back at him, gesturing him close once more. Everything she's rejected is stacked near the pillows. Everything she's picked is laid out for him to see.]

Does all of this work for you?

Edited 2020-05-23 05:11 (UTC)

[ He lifts his eyebrows, initially alarmed by how much Eun decides to set aside. But then he notes how, with the ones she's chosen, he can mix and match for twice the amount of outfits to wear. ]

How did... [ he glances back to her ] I had not thought to pair them that way.

[Eun looks particularly pleased when it becomes clear to him what she's done. She's arranged the clothing in such a way where he can see where one shirt will work with two pairs of pants, or a pair of pants with two different shirts, and the jackets that work with each sort of cluster of clothing. They'll have access to laundry, and the clothing involved are all unique enough to provide slightly different styled looks so it doesn't become a uniform for him.

There's flexibility, depending on where they go and what he feels like wearing.]

You can mix it all up, I think, and pack less in the process. There's good shopping in California so it gives you some room to take back more things if you find anything along the way.

[She pauses a beat, then asks:]

You do like the way they've been grouped together, I assume? That wasn't a polite way to say "I wouldn't have done this because it's not to my taste," yes?

I do. [ Chuckling now. ]

It solves my dilemma as I was worrying what to bring while packing light. The last thing I want is for us to be bogged down by luggage.

[ Bumping her hip with his playfully at that. ]

This will be the first time I will be traveling for an extended period.

[Eun bumps his hip back as well, an easy smile lighting her face, but his comment does raise her curiosity.]

Are you nervous at all about being away from home for so long? For being out in the rest of the world again for a lengthy period of time?

[Is there anything she should watch for? Anything she can do to make the trip easier for him?

Does he need the trip to be easier in any way in the first place? Or is he perhaps looking forward to traveling once more?]

Truthfully, a little bit of both.

[ He sits back down on the edge of the bed, offering his hand to her if only because he has gotten used to the privilege of touching her. ]

I once ruled all of Spain. Enough to keep out wolves who might challenge my authority.

While I was not overly fond of the cities, I do miss being able to visit places.

[Every once in a while she's startled again by his importance to the rest of the werewolf world. To her, he is Asil. To others, he is apparently the former ruler of werewolves of Spain. An entire country. It may not have included all of the people of that country, but it's no less important.

When invited, she goes to him, standing between his legs and taking his hand with pleasure.]

Well, then this will be a good test run to see how you do in a few different locales. See if it helps or at least makes a difference to have a companion with you. [She squeezes his hand encouragingly.] Especially one who is charming and witty and quite possibly even more beautiful than you are.

[Asil is not the only one who can be vain, though Eun offers her comment in a tone that suggests she is teasing, and not at all comparing their looks in the least.]

But seriously, if there is anything I can do to make things easier on you, just say the word and I'll do anything.

[ Again he is reminded at how precious she is to him, his beautiful Eun. Turning his face up to her, he offers her a smile. ]

I promise that I will let you know.

[ Drawing her close and lifting her hand to his lips at that. ] If my lady does not have anything else she would recommend me to bring, I can put these clothes away and perhaps we can curl up in bed together before I put dinner together for us?

[Funny how having her hand kiss still brings a little blush to her cheeks. Eun is more than happy to be drawn in, lifting her arms to rest lightly over his shoulders.]

Why don't I head downstairs while you put your clothes away and bring up something for us to eat. I had a very hard time getting up from the bed earlier in the conversation and I think if I settle in again you're going to have a hard time convincing me to do it again, even with the promise of food.

[Sex is never far from her mind, and she's been enjoying breaking her fast with Asil these days, but Eun would even be content just to spend an evening touching him and being touched. She thinks perhaps he may find it all soothing before they head back out into the big wide world around them in the morning.]

[ Laughter comes easy these days. And it leaves him with a sense of wonder especially since it is borne from simple joy. ]

I promise to have the bed cleared of clothing and my bags packed away by the time you return.

I made migas the other day. There are some leftovers from that dish if you would like to bring some up.

[Eun loves that she can bring a smile to his face. It seems so easy for her, and yet she often gets the sense that it is not a usual occurrence for him. At least, not before she arrived, and not so openly the way he does.]

I'll get everything nuked then, and bring it up for us both.

[She cups his face in both hands and presses a kiss to his mouth with a hum.]

Don't take long, I'm going to be quick as can be.

[Pulling away, Eun slips out of Asil's bedroom and down to the kitchen to do just as promised, putting together a mix of leftovers and a few other things to supplement. Just in case they find themselves needing to replenish their energy somehow that evening.]

[ He sets himself to work, padding over barefoot to his closet to find the travel suitcases he keeps nested at the far end. It has been a long time since he's used these as previous excursions to the Tri-cities had only warranted a duffel. The bags are old, the style from over two decades ago, but they have rollers and they are sturdy and that is all he really needs.

He packs his things methodically, rolling where needed and filling in gaps as necessary. Everything is done in no more than ten minutes, and he sets the suitcase off to the side.

He'll be lounging on the bed by the time you get back, finally answering the neglected messages from his inbox. ]

I should be amused that Anna seems to be overly fussy about this trip

[Eun walks in, amused as well by his comment.]

You certainly could be. She's awfully thorough. Must indulge that part of her that wants badly to take care of us all. An omega thing, isn't it?

[The food is steaming on a tray, which Eun sets down somewhat in from the foot of the bed.]

I'm grateful, honestly. She's better at all of this than I am.

It is, an Omega thing, as you said. [ He sets his phone aside and smiles. ] And she cares deeply about pack.

So we all indulge her when she sends instructions in rapid fire succession.

Come here. [ It is a gentle request. He is not quite hungry, but he would like to rest for a little bit. ]

[Eun slides around the side of the bed and climbs up beside him. At once, she settles by his side, shifting to mold her body to his contentedly.]

What can I do for you, mi amor?

I wanted an excuse to curl up with you for a bit.

[ A quick kiss to the forehead at that.

Softly, he adds: ] I might be a little unsettled about traveling. But it will pass. Can I hold you like this for awhile?

Edited 2020-05-23 09:10 (UTC)

[She'd like to say that he doesn't need any excuse to curl up with her, carefully wrapping an leg across his as well, pulling him snug against her.]

You can hold me as long as you want. As long as you need. [She nuzzles against him slowly, gently.] What do you think is unsettling you about all of it? What worries you?

[ There is a pause on his end as he attempts to find the words to articulate what it is that crept under his skin once he'd zipped up his suitcase.

Finally, he breathes. ]

I do not know if this will describe it well. But it is a little like that first moment when you step into the woods here and realize that the size of the trees are overwhelming.

[ He takes a moment again, adds: ] I have not been to the coast in decades. The prospect of seeing the ocean again has me strangely anxious.

But in a way that is good. I think.

[Funny enough, Eun thinks that he describes it perfectly. Some things are best conveyed through a more abstract concept than defining terms.]

It makes perfect sense to me. I feel like the longer you stay in one place, your world starts to feel...encapsulated. No matter how large an area your world encompasses. It's not a matter of distance or size so much as...repeated familiarity perhaps?

[Carefully, she reaches up to stroke his arm, fingers touching him with care and affection.]

The prospect of leaving that space when you are so firmly entrenched in it can be exciting but also a shock to the system. Probably more so when the enormity of the world, like large forests and oceans, only serve to play up that contrast. Does that sound about right?

Yes. [ Her touch soothes him, and he reached over to stroke her cheek. Feeling a little less... vulnerable about expressing his concerns, he continued: ]

There is also the idea of seeing more people than I am used to. I understand California is... dense.

Denser than Missoula, at least. [ Because Aspen Creek numbers no more than 200 people at the most. ] What... what is it like?

I know you told me before. But if you do not mind, tell me again?

[His concerns are perfectly understandable. While Asil isn't agoraphobic, some of the things he expresses seem similar to someone who has similar challenges. That he stutters even briefly with his words makes a deeper impression on her. They have shared so much, emotionally difficult things, but even then she can't remember him doing that while they spoke.

She leans into the touch of his hand, before shifting, moving until her body lays atop his. There is something to be said for the pressure one feels in a tighter embrace, and Eun expects the whole of her weight to help.]

Well, it depends on which city we're talking about. I can tell you about Daly City and San Francisco first, or the whole, Carmel, Monterey area. Which would you like to hear first?

Perhaps, match your descriptions to our itinerary.

[ Her weight on his body helps in ways he has no words to describe. Tension bleeds away, and he drapes an arm over he waist. ]

I can picture what to expect better that way.

[Eun braces herself somewhat above him, enough that she can look him in the eyes. Enough that he can see her as she speaks.]

Okay, that's easy. Charles is going to land us in a little coastal town called Half Moon Bay. We'll grab the rental car that's waiting for us and hop onto Highway 1. It's called a highway but honestly it's just a long stretch of road that goes up and down the coastline. It'll probably be a little overcast, but you'll be able to see a mix of wide open fields and trees, and houses nestled in the hills. Sometimes a restaurant. There's a seafood place my parents and I used to go to...

You'll probably see the ocean here or there, but the highway is usually inset enough that it wouldn't be more than glimpses probably. When it's cloudy and the skies are grey, sometimes you don't even notice because the water goes grey with it, and it all looks the same.

It's a beautiful drive though. Peaceful. I think you'll enjoy it, though we won't be on the road more than half an hour I think.

[Eun lowers her head a little, allowing it to rest beside his. She shifts, turning a little so she can speak into his ear.]

Daly City is denser, but it's very suburban. Most of the activity centers around the mall, which is close to an actual highway, but we won't even need to pass through there to get to my parents' home. We'll be driving into the hills from the other side, and not going close to busier spaces. The hills can be steep here and there, but not like it is in San Francisco, and it's all mostly two story homes around there. It's denser for homes, but there are still a lot of trees among it all. There's foot traffic too, the bus system is alright and people use it to get around, but it's not...it feels like a town not a city like San Francisco is. Do you understand what I mean?

[ He shuts his eyes to picture it, though he is sure the images he conjures up differ in small ways from what he will actually see. The image she describes is peaceful - far from the busy city that he has, admittedly, had concerns over. ]

Yes, I do.

[ He moves his hand up and down her back. Her presence and achor for that grounds him. ]

Characters

PREMISE

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